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On this page you can find employment services policies for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Policies are organized alphabetically by topic area below.
These policies are from the Office of Developmental Disabilities Service and Vocational Rehabilitation (which are both part of the Oregon Department of Human Services) and from the Oregon Department of Education.
The documents below are helpful when navigating ODDS Employment Policy.
Benefits and Work Incentive Counseling services help people with disabilities make informed decisions about work, benefits and the use of work incentives to achieve their employment goals.
Policy Documents and Related Information
The Career Development Plan (CDP) identifies the individual's employment goals and objectives. The CDP is based on person-centered planning principles.
Policy Documents and Related Information
Worker's Guides
Competitive Integrated Employment is full or part-time work at minimum wage or higher, with wages and benefits similar to those without disabilities performing the same work, and fully integrated with co-workers without disabilities.
Policy documents and related information
Transmittals
ODDS and VR are committed to contracting employment services from qualified Employment Professionals who meet training and competencies adopted by Oregon Employment First.
Policy documents and related information
Transmittals
This is a person-centered, time-limited, employment planning service. It can help an individual obtain, maintain, or advance in a competitive integrated job at or above minimum wage. Activities in the service can vary and can identify an individual's interests, strengths, and abilities.
Policy Documents and Related Information - Effective 9/1/2021
The Employment Outcomes System (EOS) is a system for collecting semiannual data on the employment outcomes of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who are receiving employment services from ODDS. Job seekers can use this data to research employment providers in their area.
Employment Path Community Services should provide learning and work experiences. It may include volunteer opportunities. The goal of this service is for an individual to develop employment skills to be used in an integrated job.
Policy Documents and Related Information
As of September 2020, ODDS no longer funds sheltered workshop services.
The Employment Stabilization Worker's Guide outlines the process related to transfers from VR-funded job coaching to ODDS-funded job coaching. It also specifies how and when ODDS can fund job coaching in its entirety.
ODDS services are funded through the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program. New federal regulations specify that all HCBS services must be offered in integrated community settings. Those settings that do not comply have time to transition and come into compliance, as outlined in the state level transition plan and provider level transition plans.
Policy Documents and Related Information
Job Coaching is a support service for an individual to maintain or advance in an individual job in a competitive integrated employment setting in the general workforce, including customized employment or self-employment.
Forms
A Job Developer identifies job opportunities in the workplace where an individual's skills match the employer's need. Job Development may include support with the application and interview process, and visits with potential employers.
Lane v. Brown is a class action involving employment services that Oregon provides to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). A settlement was reached at the end of 2015, which was accepted and approved by the Oregon Federal District Court in January 2016.
View reports
Project SEARCH is a successful employment service model where interns gain work experience while rotating in a series of nine-month internships. The goal is to leave with competitive integrated employment in the community.
Policy Documents and Related Information
Transmittals
The tier review process has been in effect since 2014 when ODDS started tier-based rates for employment and Day Support Activities. A Service Coordinator or Personal Agent would submit a request to ODDS for a tier review. If a provider is concerned that an individual's needs are not supported by their current tier, they can notify the SC/PA that a tier review is needed and provide supporting documents.
Transmittals
Transition from school to work or post-secondary education involves a number of partners and activities and should begin well before students leave school. Transition services begin at age 16, or younger if the team determines it is necessary, and continues through age 21. In some cases, adult service providers may continue transition services up to age 24.
Individuals are eligible for community or Employment/Day Support Activity (DSA) transportation services, if they need daily living care supports either during transportation or at the destination and are receiving services through the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS).
More information is available on the ODDS Transportation Services web page.
ODDS and VR policy for planning and implementing supported employment services is the opportunity to work at least 20 hours per week, recognizing that based on individual choice, preferences and circumstances, some people may choose to work at that level while others may not.
Transmittals
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